Scanned laser vein contrast enhancer utilizing surface topology

Abstract

A miniature vein enhancer is operated in one of three modes to project an image of a patient's veins onto the imaged body region, aiding a practitioner in pinpointing veins for a venipuncture procedure (intravenous drip, withdrawing blood . . . ). In one embodiment that uses two wavelengths of light (e.g., using two lasers), the image is obtained using red or infrared light, and is projected using visible light. In another embodiment using two wavelengths of light, the vein image is obtained using the first wavelength (red or infrared), and a fluorescent material (e.g., cream) sensitive to the second wavelength is applied to the skin surface, so that transmission of the imaged vein locations using the second wavelength energizes the fluorescent cream to visualize the veins on the skin surface. A three laser embodiment uses a third wavelength (violet or ultraviolet) to detect surface topology and subtract that noise from the vein image.